Could the Browns actually pull off an incredible upset and beat the Steelers on Sunday?



… nah, but someday those picks may change them

On paper, this should be a mismatch, a team that has dominated the AFC-Central against a team that did not even win a game last season. In fact, the Cleveland Browns have won just four games in the past three seasons and have not had a winning record since 2007.
Conversely, the Steelers won 13 games last season and are expected to coast to another divisional title this year.

Yet, there are dissenting voices. The illustrious Peter King said that the Steelers have major problems, including the fact that the mercurial running back Le’Veon Bell has not yet shown up for camp and may not do so for a while.

However, he, and some others, have pointed to the defemsive problems at linebacker, where the Steelers lost two former number 1 draft picks who turned out to be outstanding LBs in the past two years. Ryan Shazier may never play again after sustaining a spinal injury, and Lawrence Timmons went to Miami after the Steelers decided not to re-sign him after ten years with the team, most as the squad’s leading tackler.

The defensive woes led to the Steelers not advancing at all in the NFL postseason playoffs last year, allowing Jacksonville to score 45 points in a huge upset.

Here is why the Steelers' fans should not worry
The Browns have had just two winning seasons since 1999.

The Browns have defeated the Steelers just five times since 1999.

The Browns have some good young players, but they are young and untested.

Todd Haley is their offensive coordinator.

Finally, they are the Browns, after all. Why worry?

Here is why the Steelers should worry


Defense, defense, defense

Le’Veon,Le'Veon, LeVeon -- nah, James will do fine.

Dissension in the locker room.

Baker Mayfield — first game, but looks like he could be another Ben R.

Playing in Cleveland with the fans in the Dog Pound

Todd Haley is their OC.

On any given day …

The Haley factor

I thought that Haley was a terrible choice by Tomlin as OC, but in honesty, Roethlisberger had better numbers under Haley’s offense than any of the previous coordinators.

Roethlisberger has thrown for 24,486 of his career total of 51,065 in the past six years, almost half of that total. He has averaged more than 4,000 yards per year in those seasons, the best average of any coordinator. His 4,952 yards in 2014 in a career high.

Fans could argue that he had better receivers in that period than in earlier years, which is true. But, he has also not been sacked as much because of the blocking schemes that Haley installed.

In any event, with Haley tutoring Mayfield, he may become an outstanding QB. However, he will be starting his first professional game, so that could be problematic for the Bears.

Browns have had a slew of number 1 picks

The Browns have had so many high draft picks in recent years, sooner or later they should start developing some good players. Here is their list from recent years:

2014 Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel

2015 Danny Shelton and Cameron Erving

2016 Corey Coleman and Myles Garrett

2017 Jabril Peppers and David Nioku

2018 Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward

Obviously, some have been successful and others look promising. Others, like Manziel have been flops.

However, sooner or later they will inevitably start to develop into good players. This year, they should be improved.

Time will tell, but I would still take the Steelers, despite their travail, this Sunday.

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